Junkers JU.52 accident at Bukovac, Serbia, 22 Oct 1942 (D-AYGX)
On October 22, 1942, a Junkers JU.52 (registration D-AYGX) operated by Deutsche Lufthansa was involved in an aviation accident near Bukovac, Serbia in flight. 17 people were killed. Investigators recorded the probable cause as: Controlled flight into terrain. It appears that weather information transmitted to the crew were erroneous and did not reflect the reality. At the time of the accident, the cloud base was lower than the 600-metres base previously announced. This summary draws on records from the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives (B3A); 4 related events involving the same aircraft type or operator are linked below.
Probable cause
Controlled flight into terrain. It appears that weather information transmitted to the crew were erroneous and did not reflect the reality. At the time of the accident, the cloud base was lower than the 600-metres base previously announced.
— NTSB Determination
Accident narrative
While passing over Novi Sad, descending to Belgrade-Zemun Airport, the captain encountered marginal weather conditions with low clouds. Some five km east of Bukovac, the three-engine airplane named 'Johannes Höroldt' impacted the north slope of Mt Fruška Gora (380 metres high). The wreckage was found less than 30 metres below the summit and all 17 occupants were killed.
Probable cause (official findings): Controlled flight into terrain. It appears that weather information transmitted to the crew were erroneous and did not reflect the reality. At the time of the accident, the cloud base was lower than the 600-metres base previously announced.